Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-05-07
THE CONTEST OF 1888.

R0RNNo " WIN OaSI Al ocSOA poah-
ing the opinions of prominent poll
ticianS as to the next Presidency.
The general tenor of these outgiv-
ings is that Cleveland will be the
Democratic nominee without scarce.
ly doubt. But there is a ques-
ton with some of the more candid
of the persons interviewed, as to his
election. George William Curtis
thinks that the chances will be
against him, while more pronounced
Democrats claim that ne will be
successful both in the Convention
and the Electoral College. The
drift of positive expression among
Republicans is that Blaine can get
the nomination of his party if he
wants it.-Others, however, think
differently and express the belief
that Senator Sherman will show
more strength and more winning
points than the Maine statesman.
Others, again, incline to the con-
clusion that neither of them will be
favored with the Convention APP
prevail. w. B. Allison, of Iowa, is
regarded as a strong third in the
race, with the certainty of having
Blaine's influence, should that gen.
tleman not be the man himself.
Others still, speak of Hawley, of
Connecticut, Long, of Mass, Har.
rison, ofIndiana, ingalls,, of Kansas,
Blair, of New Hampshire, and
Foraker, of Ohio, as promising dark
horses. So in this multiplicity of
counsel there is more or less of con-
fusion and really no positive lights
to guide to a definite conclusion.
The difference between the two
parties, at this stage of the play, is
that the Democrats admit they must
nominate Cleveland or their chances
of success would be desperate. They
seem to recognize that he has a
grip on the machine that cannot be
loosened although kickers would be
numerous and fierce. Not to select
him for another trial, would be to
condemn the first Democratic adj
ministration within a quater of a
century, and this would be an adj.
mission that the party is incapable
of governing the county wisely and
safely.
The Republicans are not confined
to such narrow line. They point
to the names of half dozen or more
trained and experienced statesmen,
either one of whom would receive
the support of the rank and file and
probably be elected.
The difference is, however, more
pronounced when it comes to poll
cies and principles. The Democrats
can agree upon nothing. While the
main strength of the party, as well
as the present administration, is
committed to free trade, there is a
Democratic contingent that would
not cooperate in fastening that
luminous policy upon the country.
They are as widely separated, too,
as to the repeal of the internal rev.
enue system as to the tariff laws,
the educational interests, and the
finances. In their next convention
it will be difficult for them to shape
a platform. 1t is in this that Cleve-
land appears as necessity. While
he is free trader, opposed to the
abolition of the internal revenue
system, pronounced against silver
coinage, and hostile to national aid
for popular education, yet he has a
strong will that makes him leader
and an independent way of doing
things, that is much needed in a
party that is so discordant, jarring
and uncertain as to administrative
measures.
While this is the condition of the
Democracy as to the important
public questions named, the Repub-
lican are substantially united upon
all ofthem. They are for protection
to American industries and Ameri,
can labor; favor the repeal of the
whole internal revenue system as a
relic of the war, and unnecessary
for the purposes of government, now
that the public debt has been re-
duced to easy control for a bi-me.
talic currency, with gold and silver
coinage of equal intrinsic value and
for the Blair educational bill, as an
act of justice to the South and of
salty to the Union. Upon these
issues the Republican Convention of
1888 will be definite and certain.
But there are influences to consider
in casting the horoscope of 1883,
which had not the formidable organ
lied force in the past that they have
now and will have hereafter, until
finally settled. Senator Allison, the
other day, in response to question
as TO the nroSnpctS of the twn great